Alberta's Medical History: Young And Lusty, And Full Of Life

"Here is the story of medicine in Alberta as it unfolded. It is one of unexpected accomplishment, a trend that is likely to continue well into the 21st century."

The "Profiles" volume features chapters on the various influential doctors in Alberta from Dr. John Rae (1813-1893) whose "major achievements were not as a physician or fur trader rather as a geographer completing the mapping of the northern Canadian coastline and the northwest passageway", to Dr. David Lorne Tyrrell (1943-) whose "life of bench-to-bedside medical research, overlapped by a career in clinical medicine (Infectious Disease), a ten-year medical deanship, and a post-deanship biotechnology career that is still unfolding."

The "Perspectives" volume features snapshots of Alberta's medical history. They include:
The Hector Memorials: the oldest monument in Banff and Jasper National Parks, acknowledging the scientific contributions of James Hector as a member of the Palliser expedition and for his identification of the Kicking Horse Pass";
The Alberta Heritage Foundation For Medical Research: In 2005 The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) celebrated its silver anniversary. "The AHFMR could look back over 25 years of leadership and contributions to medical research in Alberta and Canada. Through partnerships, collaborative effort, a validated framework, and a sound research granting policy, the AHFMR had built an enviable reputation and was admired far beyond its borders."
Tidbits and Teasers From Alberta's Medical History includes items like these:
Peter Romieux was the first physician to arrive on the Prairies; he arrived as a physician/fur trader sent by the Hudson Bay Company to York Factory in 1668.
Dr. L.G. deVeber made the longest housecall on horseback in 1883 when he rode five horses from Fort Macleod to the Cochrane ranch west of Calgary. It was about 130 miles one way.
The prairies had the highest MD enlistment rate in WWI and WWII, exceeding 35% in both wars, far in excess of the enlistment rate for the general population.
Dr. Eardley Allin and colleagues performed the first Siamese Twin operation in 1950 at the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Edmonton.

Browse through the chapters by clicking on the links below, or order your own hard copy for $70 plus shipping by downloading and sending in the Order Form.

AHFMR 40th Anniversary

AHFMR committee

Dr. Earle P. Scarlett